Amy Zents Shy Singer Series: When you want to learn chords, don't just learn three.

Music is like nature and it is made up of many colors

When you decide to learn to play chords, consider your ears. Your musical ears. Here is a link to explanations of chords and how they are comprised. Learn to differentiate between the variety of chords and how the tones are expressed. Learn to understand how chords are built and all they can do to embellish your music. Jazz is a very popular genre of music because it stretches the limits of how chords are used.

Enjoy and use your talent as a force for creativity and not boring sameness!!!

You will enjoy this page very much on formulating chords! Have at it Shy Singer and be ahead of the rest!

http://mugglinworks.com/chordmaps/part4.htm

Keep Singing!

Amy Zents

PS. "Nothing is pleasant that is not spiced with variety." -Francis Bacon

Amy Zents Shy Singer Series: Accompany Yourself on the Guitar

Singers can and should collaborate with other musicians. However, since the singer may be shy, or for a multitude of other reasons, from fear of socializing, to lack of resources, this may not always be possible.
So, I have devised an easy solution. Pick up a guitar and learn to play and write your own songs!
I purchased my Recording King Acoustic (see above) at http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ for under $200.
I see they don't seem to carry my crazy-sexy guitar there anymore, but you can find a comparable one of good quality for a reasonable price.
Today, we touch on Step One. Find a guitar.

Keep singing!

Amy Zents

"I love the subtle range and tonal range of the acoustic guitar." - Dan Fogelberg

Amy Zents Shy Singer Series: Parrot Cover Songs Legally

If you plan to "parrot" a cover song, you should cover your bases with information about copyright first

Hi there,
One of the most controversial and interesting topics for singers is singing cover songs. One great link I found in looking around for information on cover songs and copyright law was in this blog:
http://suebasko.blogspot.com/2010/12/cover-songs-performing-and-recording_19.html

So, be wise. If you want to sing covers, great. Just keep in mind, to market them you will probably need permission.

Keep singing,

Amy Zents

PS. "Being a cover artist is not like being a real artist. That's just copying what someone else did." - Sebastian Bach

Amy Zents Shy Singer Series: Whose equipment is this?

                            Don't play with fire; Label and care for your equipment!

I would like to start off this blog with a little information on equipment and then move on to talk about why you need to label your equipment, and protect and care for it.
When you start off with your performing career, you may think that an amp, a mic and a music stand is all you need to succeed. Well, let me tell you of one great resource I have found where you can get pretty good equipment for a reasonable price. The place is called, "Musician's Friend."
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/
Here are some things I have bought there.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/shure-sm58s-mic-with-switch
You can buy a cheaper version for $49.99 sans switch.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/shure-sm48-lc-vocal-microphone
I got a cute Peavey Sound system with speakers and inputs.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/peavey-messenger-portable-sound-system
It is reasonable priced at $399.99 and has free shipping!
Use it in places that are more intimate.
The bigger the place, the bigger the speakers you will need.
Take care of your equipment. Label your equipment.
Don't let people rob you of your equipment. Keep it marked and labeled.
http://www.ehow.com/video_4430047_label-instruments.html
Most of all, don't leave the door of your pick-up bed open to let your
equipment slide out.
We left the back door of our pick-up bed down and, in an after-thought before we left I wrapped up our sound board in a dog quilt I had. The thick quilt had enough grip to keep the sound control board from slipping out the back. Days later, I heard on the radio about a musician who was offering a reward for
his expensive concertina that slipped off the back of his truck because he forgot to put up the back pick-up bed door and it slipped off.
Indeed,, we were very lucky because I thought to wrap the control board in the quilt!
Here is another video with great advice on how to pack instruments in your vehicle.
http://www.ehow.com/video_4430041_pack-car-instruments.html?pid=1&wa_vrid=8aa954b6-7ec8-4c5c-a7b8-3fd75cf4f54d&cp=1&wa_vlsrc=continuous
I love the idea of a U.S. Marine sticker on your car to prevent thefts! :-)

Keep singing,

Amy Zents

P.S. There's never enough of the stuff you can't get enough of." - Patrick Boyle

Amy Zents Shy Singers Series: Superstars Keeping the beat

                                                 To be a Superstar, you gotta keep the beat!

Today I was watching this guy http://www.kennymuhammad.com/ on Stan Lee's Superhumans TV Show.
If you are interested in becoming a great singer, here is one vital tip. Learn to keep the beat!
If you can also beatbox with your vocalis muscles, GOOD ON YOU!
What I do, besides collaborating with great musicians who keep perfect time, is rehearse with a metronome.
I also stomp a leg. If that is what helps you FEEL it, then stomp that foot.

Keep Singing,
Amy Zents

P.S. 
“Music creates order out of chaos: for rhythm imposes unanimity upon the divergent, melody imposes continuity upon the disjointed, and harmony imposes compatibility upon the incongruous.”

- Yehudi Menuhin